NHL Insider provides huge new update on the return of Vancouver Canucks star Thatcher Demko

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Tom Banks
November 4, 2024 (8:14 PM)

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Thatcher Demko has been out since the Vancouver Canucks Stanley Cup Playoffs loss last season, but now, he's nearing a major return.

The Vancouver Canucks were the surprise of the NHL world a season ago, but now, through injuries and player turnover, they've struggled to replicate that success thus far in 2024/25. Perhaps the biggest issue however is the absence of starting goaltender Thatcher Demko, who left the series against the Edmonton Oilers with an injury, with his future up in the air.

Now however, TSN's Darren Dreger has provided a huge update on his status, and for the Canucks fans awaiting his return, it's fantastic news.

«You're right. He's been going through his goalie workouts, and he has been skating, and he has been taking shots, but he hasn't practiced with the full group.

And the hope is that Thatcher will return to the full team practice at some point this week. And then after that, I think you start looking at a countdown. Now, are we talking for several days? Are we still talking in that week-to-week category?

That report was followed up by Canucks reporter Rick Dhaliwal, who reveals that while there's no timeline for Demko's return, he is in the last stages of returning from what was once seen as a potentially career-ending injury. Without Demko, Kevin Lankinen has been fantastic in 7 starts, posting a 2.25 GAA and a .919 save percentage, and while Arturs Silovs struggling, it's safe to say that his return couldn't have come at a better time.

There are still other issues that have the Canucks sitting at 5-2-3 during a very streaky 10-game start to the season, but with Demko's return on the horizon, it's safe to say that optimism will rise as they look to make a push for the Stanley Cup Playoffs once again.